UAE royalty summoned by Tharparkar court for illegal game hunting

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THARPARKAR: A district and sessions court in Tharparkar on Saturday while acting upon a local villager’s complaint, summoned members of the UAE royal family, who are visiting Pakistan for the purpose of small game hunting.

Muhammad Yousuf, a resident of Lorio village, had complained to the court that Shaikh Ahmed bin Khalifa along with his entourage was disturbing and obstructing the local residents lives near Tharparkar’s Diplo town.

The petitioner also complained that the Khalifa had been hunting the rare Houbara Bustard in the region for many years without having the permit, in addition to his contingent’s VVIP movement.

The Khalifa who is a relative of UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has been using the hunting permit issued by the federal government to Al Maktoum which limits hunting to within Badin district, Jungshahi (Thatta district) and Dhabeji (Malir district) and does not allow the hunting of Houbara Bustards.

The court has also summoned SSP Badin and District Game Officer (DGO) Ashfaque Ahmed Memon, who told the media that he would be submitting a detailed report on how the dignitaries are fearlessly violating the local hunting rules and will appear in court during the proceedings.

The DFO further stated that the royal guests had not discontinued their hunting expedition despite the courts summon. The royal family has been provided security on the federal government’s order.